While countertops, flooring and cabinets are generally places to keep it simple, the backsplash is a good place to inject some personal style, whether that’s with a mosaic feature or a bold color. And since that wall literally connects the countertops with the cabinets it’s also a place to tie everything together.

Copper creates a warm glow that softens the hard edges of a contemporary kitchen. If you’re using copper in a kitchen countertop and want to keep the sleek, polished look, select copper that has been sealed.

Brick one way to warm up a kitchen, whether left as is or painted to match the rest of the design scheme. Like stone, brick can be harder to clean, but can be maintained pretty easily if sealed properly and cleaned on a regular basis.